Raise a toast to a soon-to-be former princess
Has anyone else’s heart melted a little bit at the news of the Japanese princess marrying a commoner and thus having to give up her royal status? First, I love the word commoner. It’s such a perfect insult. Nothing too vile, nothing you have to bleep out or not say in front of the kids. ‘That commoner!’ It’s great.
So, next year Princess Mako — the eldest grandkid of Japanese Emperor Akihito — will marry her college classmate, one smiling legal assistant named Kei Komuro. The princess used to sit behind him in a classroom at the international Christian University in Tokyo. She was won over by his big heart and sunny smile, apparently. Although, what else can you say when a gaggle of reporters is baying for sound bytes? ‘Tell us more, your highness! Tell us more!’ I don’t know if they address royalty as your highness in Japan, but I’m wondering if she’s going to feel bad the day after her wedding when people address her as just Mako. Or Maks. Hey M! When does the titular glory stop in any case? I’d love to know trivia about what the ‘done’ thing is in Japanese royalty, especially when it comes to abdicating the throne. Give me the dirt on the protocol, someone.
What is Kei going to call his mom and pop-in-law? Your highness or what? When is familiarity allowed to wiggle in? Is it ever? I mean, at some point he will have to visit them at their home (castle?), right? Will he have to sit cross-legged on the floor? Or does royalty do cushions on gold-carved low seats with the odd emerald jutting out and even common guests/ sons-in-law are extended the courtesy? He will have to drink ceremonial green tea, right? Does he wait for dad-in-law to sip first the sencha? I hear Japan’s a patriarchal society. And these are royals. So how does that translate into table manners? Unless I’m stereotyping too much. I’d love to be a fly on the wall to watch groggy, yawning commoner groom emerge from the guest room in his wife’s former home, and
I’d love to be a fly on the wall to watch groggy, yawning commoner groom emerge from the guest room in his wife’s former home, and run into a prince in the kitchen run into a prince in the kitchen. Wait, is Mako’s dad a prince or a king? Either way, surely His Highness Mako’s dad is in line for the throne at some point (like Charles in London, no?) and won’t be walking around his house in any raggedy dressing gown and fleecy bunny rabbit slippers. They’re, no doubt, handmade in some Italian village with 200 expert slipper smiths. Unless Japan does loungey footwear better. Customsied for royalty.
Are his to be in-laws a bit miffed at silly Mako for giving up the royal shebang “for that legal guy” or is her mum — or dad, one parent at least — proud of her and glad that she’s following her heart, if that is indeed what she’s doing. When he sees them first thing in the morning on those times when he has to visit them, does he bow or does he run? What will family vacations be like? Will Mako and Kei be served last because royalty goes first or are meal times more democratic?
In Crown, the Netflix series, I loved the episodes when they focus on Edward the eighth abdicating the throne, and Ed was actually the king, England’s shortest ruling monarch and all that, for ol’ Wallis Simpson, for who he had to push off to France to marry.
Am fascinated with what goes on in royal circles. And am thrilled for Mako and Kei. If Kei ever refuses to take out the trash at home, Mako will have a comeback for life. Her royal sacrifice can be rubbed in his face forever. Not that we want that. Just that it couldn’t have been the easiest decision for her. And to wonder what went on in her head, I guess, is typical of a commoner. — nivriti@khaleejtimes.com